The Story of Orange Avocado Jewelry...

• CAMTA - Giving Back

  Published Nov 30 2012 in

  

  
  

  It’s always amazing to me how making jewelry connects me to the most interesting people and organizations.  I was introduced to CAMTA (Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad) through Barb, a customer.  Barb was one of a handful of founders of this organization along with her husband.  Once a year a group of medical professionals including surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, physiotherapists to name a few , travel to Equador to provide free orthopedic surgery services to those in need.  Up to 80 surgeries are performed in 2 weeks.  Its a whirwind of travelling, setting up a surgical site, surgeries, education to the medical staff, families and support staff.  

  Ideally I would love to travel with my husband and children to help with this absolutely wonderful cause.  However, considering my children too young to take part I wondered how else I could help.  What do I know best?  In the end I decided to make a small jewelry line where 50% of the sales would be donated to CAMTA.  CAMTA requires funds to cover their travel & living costs, and medical and surgical supplies.  I was thrilled and honoured to be associated with this organization.    

  Although this is a small effort on my part, I hope to bring awareness to this organization.  You can find out more about CAMTA at www.camta.com

  
  

• Holiday Collections 2012

  Published Nov 03 2012 in My Story, New Collections

  

  

   

  I always like to make a little Holiday collection every year.  It’s my way of adding some decadence to my current designs.  

  In between all of my jobs as a mom, wife and business person my head is always spinning with jewelry ideas.  I’ve been known to take my sketch pad everywhere I go just so that I can jot down an idea, which eventually grows into a concept for a design.  There have been so many designs in my head for my Holiday Collection this year that I have come up with three styles:  Swarovski Crystal Collection,  Spike Collection and my Ombre Effect Collection.  

  My favourite Holiday Collection is my Ombre Effect.  I learned this summer from metal clay artist Hadar Jacobsen how to emulate the ombre effect with bronze and copper (an amazing process), and thought that I could transfer this look to the luxurious fine silver beads and Swarovski crystals.  A gradual transition from fine silver (99.9% silver) faceted beads to the swarovski crystals emulates the ombre effect in an elegant way.  The necklace can be worn long, doubled and short, or as a wrap bracelet with the pendant off.  The fine silver diamond pendant and perfect circular Swarovski crystal reflects my current aRt DeCo Collection.   A double wrap bracelet with the ombre effect and the silver diamond pendant is a perfect match.  The earrings complete the look.  I love how it turned out.  

  Enjoy the season with a little sparkle and shine with my new Holiday Collections!

  
  

   

  
  

• Three Too Many...

  Published Nov 03 2012 in

  

  
  

  In my twenties my co-worker, Debra, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In my thirties my neighbourhood friend, Allison, was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Now in my forties my friend, Debbie, is diagnosed with breast cancer.  One for each decade and I am just one person ... that's three too many.  How many do you know?  How many do we not know?

  
  

  For the second year in a row, I have created a small jewelry set in support of Breast Cancer Research.  I have created a simple necklace with a pink swarovski crystal pendant and three fine silver beads at the side to represent the three survivors that I know.  I have made a beaded bracelet in a pink jade semi-precious stone with a pewter breast cancer symbol.  I have brought back my fine silver link & pink swarovski crystal channel charm earrings.  The necklace & bracelet are $65 each & the earrings are $45.  Twenty percent of the sale of these pieces will be donated to the breast cancer organization and will be sold exclusively through my website www.orangeavocado.ca and through the lovely store "mbellish" in Sherwood Park.

  
  

  I hate cancer; I love my friends.

  

  
  

• Art Deco Movement: Fall & Winter 2012 Collection

  Published Nov 03 2012 in New Collections

   

  

  

  I love the transition from my sketches to the actual production of my jewelry. This year my sketches have been inspired by the Art Deco movement of the 1920’s and 30’s. I have taken the stylistically simplistic forms of geometric shapes and deconstructed them into pieces of jewelry art.  The Art Deco era was also representative of the German Bauhaus movement in architecture; think modular shapes and clean lines that flow from one piece of furniture to another. I can’t get enough of the flow of the basic geometric shapes; when combined in the most creative of ways produces strong yet beautiful pieces of jewelry.  So here it is Art Deco relived ... with an Orange Avocado Jewelry spin!

  
  

• Dear Hadar Jacobsen:

  Published Nov 03 2012 in My Story

   

  It was an honour to learn over the course of 4 days the art of metal clay through the eyes of an artist.  You have opened my eyes and taught me skills in mixing patterns of different metals to a higher level.  The art of Mokume Gane came alive with your techniques and inspired all of us to create outside of our boxes.  You are a woman of exceptional talent; I am humbled by your humility and unlimited knowledge. Over 4 days I was inspired by my fellow artisans who all came from different backgrounds of metalworking, glass working and jewelry making.  I am a speck in a sea of endless talent and beautiful women (and one token male) who want to learn, share knowledge and just do what they love to do...make some jewelry one piece at a time.  What a refreshing outlook on artisan made jewelry in a world of mass production.